Sochi Olympics: Team USA hockey GM David Poile hurt in freak accident

David Poile, shown in a file photo, was injured when a puck hit him in the face Thursday in St. Paul, Minn.

David Poile, shown in a file photo, was injured when a puck hit him in the face Thursday in St. Paul, Minn. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Helene Elliott

SOCHI, Russia -- In a freak accident Thursday, David Poile, the general manager of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team and the NHL’s Nashville Predators, took a puck to the face Thursday in St. Paul, Minn., and was hospitalized with facial injuries.

He reportedly will not accompany the team on its charter flight to Russia, which is scheduled to depart on Sunday, but might travel to Sochi sometime next week.

Poile completed his main job of overseeing the team's selection, but he had planned to be here for the men's tournament, which begins Wednesday. Team USA opens on Thursday, against Slovakia.

[Update, 1:15 p.m.: The Predators issued a statement saying Poile had undergone two successful surgical procedures "in the nose and eye areas," and had received stitches to repair a facial laceration. He is scheduled to remain in the hospital for further observation.]